Anomalous Supply of Anterior Compartment Muscles of the Arm by the Median Nerve in the Absence of the Musculocutaneous Nerve

TL;DR

This paper describes a rare anatomical variation where the median nerve, instead of the missing musculocutaneous nerve, supplies muscles in the arm's anterior compartment.

Contribution

The study identifies a novel case of the median nerve compensating for an absent musculocutaneous nerve in the brachial plexus.

Findings

The musculocutaneous nerve is absent in the studied case.

The median nerve supplies the biceps brachii, coracobrachialis, and brachialis muscles.

This variation has clinical implications for diagnosing and treating upper limb disorders.

Abstract

Anatomical diversity in the brachial plexus and its terminal branches in the right upper limb is described in this abstract. Variations in the brachial plexus are not unusual, but this case is notable since the musculocutaneous nerve is absent, and the median nerve has given branches to the structure in the anterior compartment as a result. In this study, we found that the musculocutaneous nerve does not innervate the anterior compartment of the arm; instead, the median nerve has taken on a broader role. In particular, the median nerve supplies the lateral aspect of the forearm, biceps brachii, coracobrachialis, and brachialis muscles. This instance emphasizes how important it is to comprehend and identify differences in neuronal architecture within the anterior compartment of the arm. Medical practitioners may find it helpful to know about these differences when diagnosing and treating individuals with upper limb disorders, as they have clinical implications.

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